Work stop system and jaw plate for holding the same

ABSTRACT

A work stop for use on a machine vise is received in a jaw plate for such vise and is securely locked in position. The work stop is fixed in a groove that is machined into a top edge of the jaw plate or jaw, with a member extending over the edge of the jaw plate and adjacent the face of the jaw plate that is used for clamping, a workpiece. This permits the workpiece to be slid against the stop before being clamped. The jaw plate is removably mounted onto a fixed jaw, and is located precisely relative to the fixed jaw so that the jaw plate with the work stop attached can be removed, and then replaced when the same part is to be machined again.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/892,258filed on Jul. 7, 1997 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,967.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a work stop that can be positivelypositioned on a jaw plate of a vise using a groove provided in the topedge of the vise. The work stop has two parts that are expandable indimension relative to the side surfaces of the groove to positivelyclamp the work stop in position. The jaw plate may be removable andincludes locators so it is precisely positioned in its location when itis replaced.

Work stops have long been used, particularly in machining operationsutilizing machine vises. Generally speaking, these stops are clampmounted at a specific spot on the vise and then an adjustable rod thatis held in the clamp is used to provide the desired stop position. Theclamps generally are relatively cumbersome, and expensive if they aregoing to be much good.

There have been work stops developed which utilize dove tail slots on afixed member, and then a mating dove tail block slides in the slot andsupports a stop member for forming a work stop. One such device is shownin U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,562. However, with dove tail slots the matingpieces must seat closely for securely latching the two componentstogether.

Thus, the need exists for providing a small, low cost, positiveadjustable stop used in combination with a removable jaw plate forincreasing the convenience and the speed of changing the work stopsetting, and exchanging a clamp jaw plate set up for one workpiece foranother jaw plate with a work stop for a different workpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a work stop system for use with machinevises. In particular, the work stop system includes an easilyadjustable, small, low profile stop member that slides along a groove orslot in the top edge of a jaw plate of a vise and which can bepositively locked in position. The locking requires very little movementof the locking members.

The present invention also presents a jaw plate that is used with aparallel sided slot or groove in a top edge that extends in directionalong the length of the jaw plate, which direction is transverse to theclamping direction of a vise. The work stop has a body with a first lockportion that fits into the groove in the jaw plate, and a second lockportion also that fits into the groove and mates with the first lockportion so that upon tightening a screw or turning a cam the lockportions expand and the work stop is positively locked against theparallel side surfaces of the groove or slot.

Various forms of locks are shown, including a wedge type lock where amovable wedge portion slides on a wedge surface on the first portion.Cams, expansion lock, and other members that will cause the two lockportions to expand in a direction to engage both of the parallel sidesurfaces of the slot can be used.

The jaw plates are made with a vise or clamp jaw mounting so that thejaw plates can be removed from the jaw with the work stop left inposition, and then later, when the same part is to be again made, thejaw plate can be replaced without changing the positioning of the workstop. The jaw plate is located precisely relative to the mounting jaw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vise having a workstop and a removable jaw plate made according to the present inventioninstalled thereon, with parts in section and parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the jaw shown in FIG. 1 takengenerally along line 2—2 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the fixed jaw shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a locator region of avise jaw taken on line 4—4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a jaw plate taken generally alongline 5—5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on line 6—6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of an end of a jaw plate locator pin withparts in section and parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end view of the jaw plate shown in FIG. 2 showingdetails of the locking mechanism for a work stop made according to thepresent invention with parts in section and parts broken away;

FIG. 9 is fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 9—9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view taken along line 10—10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view taken generally along line 11—11 in FIG. 10 with partsin section and parts broken away;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a modified work stop made according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is an end elevational view of the device of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the device of FIG. 12 with parts broken away;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side view of a jaw plate with parts in sectionand parts broken away showing a modified locking arrangement for a workstop mounted on the jaw plate;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a further modified lock for the work stop ofthe present invention shown with parts in section and parts broken away;

FIG. 17 is a side view of a still further modified locking member for awork stop with parts in section and parts broken away;

FIG. 18 is a side view similar to FIG. 17 showing a further modifiedform of a locking member for a work stop made according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a view taken along line 19—19 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view similar to FIG. 18 showing a further modifiedform of the locking member for a work stop made according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 21 is a view taken along line 21—21 in FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical machine vise is indicated generally at 10and includes a vise body 12 that has laterally extending rails 13 withtop surfaces 14 that support and guide a first movable jaw 15, and inthe form of the vise shown, a second movable jaw 16. The vise shown hasa center fixed jaw 18, that is held securely relative to the vise body12. On each side of the fixed jaw 18 there is a jaw plate 20 and 22,respectively. The jaw plates 20 and 22 face the respective movable jaws15 and 16, which have jaw plates 15A and 16A, mounted thereon,respectively.

The vise is operated by operating a vise screw 24 to move the two jaws15 and 16 toward and away from each other simultaneously. The jaw plates15A and 16A will clamp workpieces against the jaw plates 20 and 22,respectively.

The fixed jaw 18 is held in position on the vise body 12 with suitablecap screws 26 as shown in FIG. 2. Also, keys shown in dotted lines at 28can be used for holding the fixed jaw 18 in position on the vise.

The fixed jaw 18 has a locator cross pin 30 mounted in a centering slot32 on the lower side of the fixed jaw 18. The locator pin 30 is heldpositively in place, and has outer ends 38 that extend out from thefixed jaw 18 and which are used for locating the jaw plates 20 and 22.

The cross slot 32 that is formed in the lower edge of the fixed jaw isshown in FIG. 4. The slot 32 has inwardly tapered end surfaces 34 nearits inner or upper end to form a “V” seat for pin 30. The surfaces areangled so that the locator pin 30 has line contact along the surfaces 34when the pin is seated and will center on the surfaces 34. The pin 30has clearance at the upper end of slot 32. The locator pin 30 is pulledup against the surfaces 34 using a pull bolt 36 that has a head in arecess in the upper surface of the fixed jaw 18 and which threads into athreaded bore in the locator pin 30. The locator pin 30 end portions 38,38 protrude out beyond the side surfaces of the fixed jaw 18, and theend portions are received in locator slots 40 and 42 in the jaw plates20 and 22, respectively.

The slots 40 and 42 are blind slots, and do not extend all the waythrough the jaw plates 20 and 22. FIGS. 5 and 6 show slot 40 typically.The slots 40 and 42 have parallel sides, and are made so that when thejaw plates rest on the surfaces 14 of the vise, there is a clearance atthe top end of the slots 40 and 42 relative to the end portions 38 ofthe locator pin 30.

The jaw plates 20 and 22 are held in place with suitable cap screws thatthread into the fixed jaw in a normal manner. Such cap screws are shownschematically at 46 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. Jaw plates 20 and 22 can beheld against the surfaces of the fixed jaw 18 in any desired manner.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the end portions 38 of the locator pin 30have a slit 48 extending parallel to but offset from the pin centralaxis. The slot 48 extends inwardly from one end of the pin 30 to form aresilient locator portion 50 and a relatively fixed portion 52 of theend 38. The locator portion 50 will move toward the fixed portion 52under a force and will exert a spring load outwardly. The slots 40 and42 are made so that their width is less than the outer dimension of thelocating pin 30 and specifically less than the locating pin end 38, sothat when the jaw plates 20 and 22 are slid down into place against thefixed jaw 18 and over the end portions 38 of the locator pin 30, the jawplates 20 and 22 cause locator portion 50 to resiliently move as theyfit into the slots 40 and 42 and exert a spring load against the oneside surface of the slots 40 and 42. The jaw plates are positivelypositioned laterally in direction of the longitudinal length of the jawplates. This is the direction transverse to the axis of the movement ofthe movable jaws of the vise. The spring load from the resilientlyloaded locator portion 50 provides a positive seating of the jaw plates20 and 22, and as will be explained, that permits the jaw plates 20 and22 to be interchanged with other jaw plates with the work stops set forparticular piece parts carried thereon.

Once the jaw plates 20 and 22 are properly located laterally of thevise, the cap screws 46 are threaded into bores in the fixed jaw 18 sothat the jaw plates 20 and 22 are securely held against the face of thefixed jaw 18.

A work stop 56 is shown on each of the jaw plates 20 and 22 in FIG. 2.The work stops have stop ends 57 that extend out from the clamp face ofthe jaw plate and are positioned in a location which provides for a stopfor a workpiece to be held in the vise and machined. As shown typicallyin FIG. 6 for the jaw plate 20, and in FIG. 2, each of the jaw plateshas a locator groove or slot 58 therein. The groove or slot hasprecisely spaced parallel side surfaces 60 and 62 and a bottom surfacethat joins these side surfaces. The bottom surface is positionedsufficiently deep to form a clearance relative to the holding or lockmechanisms for the work stop 58. The surfaces 60 and 62 are preciselymachined parallel to each other and extending along the length of thejaw plates, which is the direction transverse to the direction of jawmovement for clamping.

The work stops 56 can be held in any desired location along the lengthof these grooves or slots 58, and can be made so that they will extendout beyond the ends of the vise jaws for parts that protrude beyond thesides of the vise.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the top end of the jaw plate20 and shows a work stop 56 in position. The slot or groove 58 is shown,and it can be seen that the work stop 56 has a pair of spaced apartfixed lock members 66 (see also FIGS. 9, 10 and 11) that fit into theslot 58. The lock members 66 have inclined wedge surfaces 68 on one sideand vertical side surfaces 70 opposite from the inclined surfaces.

As can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 11, the fixed lock members 66 are onopposite ends of the work stop body 55, and the lock members 66 arespaced apart in the center sufficient to receive a tongue 69 of amovable lock member or portion 71. Movable lock member 71 has outwardlyextending wedges 72 on opposite sides of its center line, and the wedges72 have upwardly facing inclined surfaces 74 which align with and matewith the surfaces 68 on fixed lock members 66. This can perhaps best beseen in FIG. 9, where the lock members 66 have been broken away, and areshown overlying partially the inclined surfaces 74 of the wedges 72.

The lock member 71 also has a vertical side surface 76 that is adjacentto and will engage the side surface 60 of the slot 58.

A cap screw 78 is positioned in the body 55 of the work stop 56, andextends through a bore 80 to be threaded into a threaded opening in thetongue portion 69 of the movable lock member 71. When the cap screw 78is tightened, the wedge surfaces 68 and 74 will engage and slide,tending to expand the overall width of the member represented in FIG. 10at W, thereby tightening the lock members to cause wedging so thesurfaces 70 and 76 expand against the surfaces 60 and 62 of the slot 58.

Thus a work stop 56 can be slid along the length of the slot 58 ofeither one of the jaw plates, and clamped in place by tightening thescrew 78 to form the wedge locking arrangement caused by the surfaces 70and 76 that expand laterally to hold the work stop positively inposition.

As stated, the work stop 56 can be left in position for a particularpart and the jaw plate removed, and when the same part is to be machinedthe jaw plate can be replaced because of the precise locatingarrangement laterally using locator pin 30 as well as against thesurface of the fixed jaw 18.

Where a work stop needs to be beyond the sides of the vise because ofthe size of the workpiece, a work stop such as that shown in FIGS. 12,13 and 14 can be utilized. In this form of the invention, a work stop 84has an elongated body 86 that lies over top of a jaw plate 88 that has agroove or slot 90 in the top edge.

While not shown in detail, the same type of wedge lock members as shownin the first form of the invention can be utilized in three positionsincluding a first position 92, a second position 94 and a third position96. By clamping at two positions such as 92 and 94 with a suitable wedgemember 96 (see FIG. 13) using cap screws 98, the work stop 84 can belocked positively in position and held in place in the slot as in theprevious form of the invention. An outer end of the work stop canprotrude beyond an end 100 of the jaw plate 88. In this instance, thework stop body 86 has a pair of work stop lugs 102 and 104 extending inopposite directions from the jaw plate 88. The groove can be in a fixedjaw, such as that shown at 18 so that the lugs 102 and 104 can be usedfor stopping workpieces on opposite sides of the fixed jaw 18. The workstop lugs can be used as desired. It can also be seen that threestations can be used for locking the work stop 84 in position.

The lock members 96 are the same type as that shown in the first form ofthe invention. The work stop 84 can have a plurality of the lock membersspaced at appropriate locations for providing the expanding members thathold the work stop positioned securely. The work stop 84 can be made toextend either to the right or left of the vise.

FIGS. 15-21 show alternate locking arrangements for use with the workstops of the present invention.

Each of the work stops is shown in the jaw plate 20, with the slot 58 inthe top edge. As shown in FIG. 15, a work stop 110 has a body 111, and alock member set screw 112 has a threaded shank threadably mounted in abore in the center of the body 111. The portion end 144 of the set screw112 is made eccentric relative to the central axis 116 of the threadedshank, and when the set screw 112 is turned, a cam surface shown at 118will engage the side surface 62 of the slot or groove and force theopposite side of the end portion 144 against surface 60 to provide a camlock for the work stop 110. The work stop lug 119 will thus be heldsecurely at a desired position along the jaw plate. Releasing the lockmember is accomplished by reversing the rotation of the set screw 112.

FIG. 16 shows a further modified form wherein a work stop 120 has a body121 that has a lock portion 123 that extends into the slot 58. Athreaded bore 122 is formed in the body 121 and lock portion 123 withthe axis of the bore 122 at an acute angle relative to the plane of thesurface 62 of the slot 58. A set screw 124 has an internal cone surface126 adjacent its inner end and is positioned in the threaded bore 122.The set screw 121 can be loosened (screwed inwardly) so that the conesurface is inside the bore in the lock portion 123. The lock portion 123and end portion 128 of the set screw can be slipped into the slot 58.The set screw is tightened (drawn upwardly) so that the conical surface126 will engage the surface 62 and push the lock portion against surface60 to securely lock the work stop 120 relative to the jaw plate 20. Thelock portion 123 has a width along the slot 58 greater than the diameterof the set screw so it has a surface 125 that engages surface 60. thelock portion has a width as shown for the locks in FIGS. 19 and 21.Releasing is accomplished by reversing direction of rotation of the setscrew. Only a partial turn of the set screw is needed for locking andreleasing.

In FIG. 17, a modified cam having an action similar to that shown inFIG. 16 is used. The work stop 130 has a countersunk bore 132 in itsbody 133, and it has a recess 134 defined therein. The body 133 has alock portion 135 that extends into the slot 58 of the jaw plate 20, andthe recess 134 extends into the lock portion and slidably receives alocking wedge member 136. The locking wedge member is positioned so itwill partially extend into the slot 58 adjacent surface 62. The recess134 is open to that side so the wedge member 136 can move out of thelock member 135 to engage surface 62. The lock member 135 also has alateral width along slot 58.

A cap screw 137 is used for tightening the wedge member 136 upwardly andwhen this is done, the wedge member 136 will engage the side surface 62of the slot 58 and cause an expanding force with the opposite side ofthe lock portion 135 including a lip portion 135 that extends into theslot 58, and the surface along the lateral width engaging surface 62.The wedge member 136 will securely hold the work stop 130 in position.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, a further modified form of the invention is shownfor holding a work stop 140 in position. The work stop 140 has a body141 in which a threaded bore 142 is formed. In addition, the body 141has a housing structure 144 that extends down into the slot 58 and formsa lock portion. As can be seen in FIG. 19, housing 144 has an interiorchamber 145. The chamber 145 has parallel side walls and is open to thesurface 62 when the work stop is positioned in the slot 58. Acompressible rubber block 136 is positioned in the chamber 145 near thelower end of the chamber, and a set screw 147 is threaded into the bore143. The set screw has an end 148 that fits into the chamber 145 andbears against the rubber block 146. When the set screw 147 is tightened,the rubber block 146 will tend to expand outwardly in direction towardthe surface 62 and will cause the work stop to be held securely byexpanding the lateral dimension of the lock portion 144 and a movablelock portion comprising the expanding rubber block 146. The block 146and lock portion 144 engage the surfaces 62 and 60 of the slot 58 forlocking.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show a further modified form of the work stop lock ofthe present invention. In this form of the invention, a work stop 154has a body 155, and a threaded bore 156 through the body. The body 155also has a lower lock housing 158 extending into the slot 58 of the jawplate 20, and the body 158 is slightly narrower than the space betweenthe surfaces 60 and 62 of the slot 58. Lower lock body 158 has a bore160 therethrough, transverse to the slot and opening to both thesurfaces 60 and 62, as shown. A cam plunger 162 is mounted in bore 160,and it has a conical seat 164 at an upper side thereof that aligns withthe bore 156 in the body 155.

A set screw 166 is threaded into the bore 156 and has a cone end 168that fits into the conical recess 164. As can be seen, the center line166A of the set screw 166 is off set from the center of the lock body158 and offset from the center of the conical seat 164. The cone end 168of the set screw thus will bear against one side of the conical shapedseat 164 and will force the plunger 162 against the surface 62. Theopposite end of the lock body 150 will bear against the surface 60 ofthe slot 58 to cause a positive lock to occur.

The system design allows positioning workpieces repeatably into a viselocating the workpiece or multiple workpieces with a minimum ofaccessories and allows mounting the vises in close proximity to eachother without interference from the work stop. The work stops arecontained within the “foot print” of the vise unless the work stop isneeded for an extended part.

When quick change over jaw plates are desired for economics ofoperation, it is also possible to keep the work stop attached to the jawplate being removed and stored until there is a future set up for thesame part. The design allows jaw plates to be used that are no higherthan the stationary jaw on which the jaw plates mount. The standard workstop is designed small enough in width so as it does not consume as muchof the usable jaw clamping surface as existing work stops, and can beused to locate parts on either the right or left edge. The sides of thework stop bodies are ground parallel.

The special stops for longer parts can be made for either right orleft-hand extension, as desired.

The work stop will be usable on all jaw sizes, so long as the jaw has agroove, and can be used on fixed jaws or on jaw plates as shown.

The jaw plate locator pin on the fixed jaw is positioned, located on thefixed jaw, and the resilient end portion of locator pin will cause thejaw plate to be located and referenced against one side of the providedslot, to positively position the jaw plate laterally. The jaw plate isheld securely against the face of the stationary jaw for insuring thatit is vertical.

A minimum number of tools are necessary for operating the work stop.Generally only an Allen type wrench is needed for operating the workstops, and also for removing and replacing the jaw plates.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of a vise and jaw plate comprisinga fixed jaw on the vise having a mounting surface thereon, a locator pinextending from the mounting surface, adjacent a jaw support of the vise,a jaw plate mounted on the fixed jaw and having a plate surfacepositioned against the mounting surface, and the jaw plate having alocator receptacle comprising a blind slot opening to the plate surfaceand to an edge of the jaw plate engaging the jaw support of the vise,the locator pin having a spring end portion that fits into the locatorreceptacle under a spring force urging an edge of the locator receptacleagainst one side of the end portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1,wherein said jaw plate has a second edge spaced from and generallyparallel to the edge engaging the jaw support, and a groove formed inthe second edge having spaced side walls that are substantially straightand extend a selected distance along the second edge.
 3. The combinationof claim 1, wherein said spring end comprises a slot formed generallyparallel to a longitudinal axis of the pin, and offset from the axiswhereby one portion of the end of the pin is deflectable relative toanother portion of the end of the pin and will deflect relative to theother portion and exert a resilient force to pull the jaw plate to aposition with the edge of the locator receptacle against an outer sideof the other portion of the end of the pin.
 4. The combination of claim2 and a work stop having a lock portion adapted to fit into the grooveon the second edge, and including a releasable lock for holding the workstop in position along the groove, said work stop having a relativelynarrow width and a low profile with a stop member extending out from thejaw plate to overlie a surface thereof opposite from the plate surface.5. The combination of claim 1, and a receptacle on the fixed jaw forholding the locator pin, said receptacle comprising a downwardly openingslot in the fixed jaw having substantially parallel side surfacesadjacent the edge of the fixed jaw on the jaw support, an inner end ofsaid slot having walls which are substantially planar and tapered towarda center plane of the receptacle in the fixed jaw, the inner end of thereceptacle being such that the pin contacts only the planar surfaces forlocating the pin in a precise position relative to the fixed jaw, and afastener for holding the pin against the planar surfaces.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5, wherein said fastener comprises a screw in abore in the fixed jaw threaded into the pin and tightenable to draw thepin against the planar surfaces.
 7. A jaw plate for use in combinationwith a fixed jaw on a vise having a mounting surface thereon, and alocator pin having a diametrically springable end extending from themounting surface, the jaw plate having a plate surface complementary tothe mounting surface, and the jaw plate having a locator receptacle atone edge comprising a closed end slot having spaced side walls openingto the plate surface and to the one edge of the jaw plate, the slothaving a width slidably receive the locator pin springable end with thespringable end exerting a spring force against the side walls of thelocator receptacle.
 8. The jaw plate of claim 7, wherein said jaw platehas a second edge spaced from and generally parallel to the one edge,and a groove formed in the second edge having spaced side walls that aresubstantially straight and extend a selected distance along the secondedge.